Chapter 220: Master Shi

Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Bo breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Looking at Shi Quan's blood-red figure, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze also returned to firmness; she walked quietly to the side and began to practice diligently, day and night.

Shi Quan sat like this for sixty days, a full two months.

The fresh red blood on his body had turned purple-black, forming a layer of hard scabs on the surface of his skin.

A tearing, shattering sound came, drawing Dugu Bo's attention.

The cracks grew more numerous, and gradually, those pieces of purple-black scabs began to fall off, revealing skin that shimmered with a faint golden light.

"Hmm—"

A soft groan sounded, and Shi Quan slowly opened his eyes. The moment his eyes opened, the golden radiance on Shi Quan's body erupted, and the light on him instantly repelled all the scabs.

A brilliant light scattered outward, accompanied by intense mental fluctuations.

Even Dugu Bo couldn't help but feel his vision blur, and his perception of the surroundings became hazy, as if everything around them had been shrouded in a layer of blurry silver light.

When Dugu Bo could clearly see everything before him again, Shi Quan had already changed into a clean robe and stood up.

"Xiao Quan, just what level has your Mental Power reached? Even I feel a sense of oppression," Dugu Bo sighed as he looked at the Shi Quan before him.

"I'm not sure exactly how strong it is, but it should be stronger than most Title Douluo."

After absorbing the God-Bestowed Soul Ring gifted by the Dragon God's dragon soul, Shi Quan did not feel any improvement in his Internal Energy; just like the previous soul ring, it only increased Shi Quan's Mental Power.

Shi Quan felt that his current Mental Power had already filled his entire sea of consciousness; it was only missing a catalyst, and perhaps his Mental Power could also transform into a Soul Core.

Shi Quan smiled, then asked, "Grandpa Dugu, how long did this cultivation take me?"

"Sixty days."

"Sixty days? That's fine, about what I expected."

The absorption of the soul bone plus the condensation of the Soul Core took about a week.

Adding the ten days spent exploring the burial grounds of the two great dragon kings.

The round trip took about two and a half months, nearly three months.

After such a long time, Xue Qinghe should have finished building momentum using the cultivation method he provided earlier.

I imagine that by going out this time, I should be able to obtain the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

Shi Quan turned to look at Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, who were still immersed in absorbing their soul bones, "Two seniors, do Lingling and Yan Yan still need your assistance for their soul bone absorption?"

"No, their absorption is already on the right track; now it is just a matter of time."

Hearing this, Shi Quan immediately took out the Heart of the Dragon God, "In that case, this junior will first assist the two seniors in their reincarnation."

"Thank you for your hard work." A flash of excitement could not help but cross the depths of the two great dragon kings' eyes.

The Reincarnation Soul Core within his body vibrated, and the auras of Earth, life, and Soul Soul intertwined.

The Heart of the Dragon God in Shi Quan's hand sensed the energy within Shi Quan's body and immediately bloomed with a brilliant nine-colored light; the nine-colored light, carrying a trace of black and white intertwined aura, submerged into the dragon souls of the two great dragon kings.

The two dragon souls let out excited roars, and in an instant, the entire cavern erupted with brilliant red and blue intertwined light.

The flesh and blood on the two dragon corpses melted at this moment, turning into specks of starlight. When the last trace of flesh and blood merged into the two dragon souls, the two dragon souls also transformed into two huge dragon eggs, one red and one blue, leaving only two massive dragon bone skeletons crouching on the ground.

It only took Shi Quan an hour or two to channel the power of the Heart of the Dragon God for the reincarnation of the two great dragon kings.

The soul power fluctuations on Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were still very intense; it looked like it would take at least another week for them to wake up.

After thinking about it, Shi Quan decided to let the two women continue their closed-door cultivation and absorption here.

He had to return to Heaven Dou City first.

Shi Quan also told Dugu Bo about his plan.

After some consideration, Dugu Bo decided to accompany Shi Quan to Heaven Dou City. Although he had barely appeared in the last two years, he understood the affairs of the continent very clearly; that fellow Tang Hao had not stopped inquiring about news of him and Shi Quan.

Shi Quan's return would certainly attract the attention of many people. Tang Hao, that old schemer, could even sneak into Wuhun City, let alone Heaven Dou City; if Tang Hao snuck in, who would be able to discover him?

With him there, Shi Quan's safety would have some guarantee. As for Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, they were sheltered from the wind and rain here, perfectly safe, so there was no need to worry.

To prevent the two women from waking up suddenly, Shi Quan even left a note for them.

After finishing everything, Shi Quan then took Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Bo and left the cavern.

Heaven Dou City.

Ever since Xue Qinghe announced the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method more than two months ago, the number of Spirit Masters in Heaven Dou City had increased by more than double compared to the past.

Xue Qinghe was very smart and very good at building momentum.

Both the Small and Large Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Methods involved a very important point: the flow of the meridians.

Therefore, he divided the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method into two parts. One part was the meridian diagram; first, he publicized the human meridian atlas in the name of the Empire, and then used this to promote that, based on human meridians, one could research and create special methods to accelerate a Spirit Master's cultivation.

Using this as a foundation, after initially making a name for the meridian diagram and waiting for the matter to gradually ferment, he deliberately guided public opinion to doubt the authenticity of the meridian diagram, and at the peak of public opinion, he announced the specific routes of the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method.

One stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Because most Spirit Masters had already learned and understood the meridian diagram, the announcement of the Small Heavenly Cycle cultivation routes caused a sensation throughout the entire Spirit Master world in just one day!

In less than three days, the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method swept through the entire Spirit Master world.

Layer by layer, it directly pushed the influence of the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method to its peak.

The name of Master Shi Quan shook the entire Spirit Master world.

Just as many Spirit Masters were feeling the benefits brought by the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method, in less than a month, a secret piece of news spread through the Spirit Master world: there was an even stronger Large Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method above the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method.

Although the Empire had not verified this news, it still attracted the pursuit and longing of countless Spirit Masters, and it was precisely because of this that there were a large number of Spirit Masters in Heaven Dou City.

Especially the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy; because they won the championship in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, and because they were expanding to recruit talented commoner Spirit Masters, their development over the past two years had been rapid.

Once the Small Heavenly Cycle Cultivation Method was released, it made the entire Heaven Dou Imperial Academy even more sought after, and its reputation rose significantly.

"Xiao Quan, I didn't expect you to cause such a big stir just after returning." Dugu Bo had heard plenty of discussions about Shi Quan along the way, and as for the ins and outs of the matter, he had also learned them from Shi Quan, so he couldn't help but sigh.

"I did all this for the sake of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud," Shi Quan said softly.

"Isn't it just a Soul Guidance Device? Was it worth going to such great lengths?" Dugu Bo was puzzled.

"Grandpa Dugu, this Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is not simple; it involves too many things. I will explain it to you after I get my hands on it."

Dugu Bo warned, "However, you still need to be careful of that Xue Qinghe; he is not simple."

"Grandpa Dugu, don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Shi Quan nodded and replied.

The three chatted along the way and soon arrived outside the Crown Prince's Mansion.

The guards at the gate recognized Shi Quan's familiar face and quickly reacted, stepping forward to salute respectfully, "Greetings, Master Shi."

Shi Quan was still not used to others calling him Master, but he nodded anyway and said, "I am here to see Brother Xue; please trouble yourselves to announce my arrival."

The guard nodded, ordering someone to go notify the prince while simultaneously having the gate opened, saying, "His Highness the Crown Prince has given instructions that if Master Shi visits, we are to take you directly to see him. Please, Master, this way."

As he spoke, the guard led Shi Quan toward the interior of the mansion.

Although Dugu Bo did not care for Xue Qinghe, he still followed Shi Quan into the Crown Prince's Mansion.

They had only walked halfway when Xue Qinghe appeared in the courtyard corridor to welcome Shi Quan.

"Brother Shi, Mr. Dugu, Sister Zhuqing. Come, come, come this way."

Xue Qinghe very enthusiastically hosted the three as they walked toward the depths of the courtyard, finally arriving at a pavilion to sit down.

"How were the gains from Brother Shi's seclusion this time?"

"I had some small gains, and I am preparing to take a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Oh? Then let me congratulate Brother Shi in advance on your Breakthrough to Soul King." Xue Qinghe cupped his hands in congratulations.

Shi Quan smiled and did not clarify; after all, during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, his soul power was only at the Soul Ancestor level, and in just over two years, it was normal for him to be a Soul King.

Yet no one knew that back during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, his soul power had already been at the forty-ninth level as a Soul Ancestor.

Since Xue Qinghe misunderstood him to be a Soul King, Shi Quan naturally did not intend to explain, only smiling as he asked, "Brother Xue, I wonder if things went smoothly?"

Xue Qinghe smiled and nodded, saying, "I have already relayed to the Emperor your interest in Soul Guidance Devices, and the Emperor has agreed to lend the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud to Brother Shi for research."

Shi Quan nodded with a smile, understanding Xue Qinghe's meaning; the so-called interest was just an excuse. Whether it was a loan or a gift, as long as he could get his hands on the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, whether he returned it or not would be another matter entirely.

"Tomorrow morning, during the early court session, Brother Shi can accompany me into the palace."

"Then I will trouble you, Brother Xue." Shi Quan nodded and agreed.

To make entering the palace easier tomorrow, Shi Quan stayed temporarily at the Crown Prince's Mansion.

To protect Shi Quan, Dugu Bo also stayed at the Crown Prince's Mansion, and as for Zhu Zhuqing, it went without saying; wherever Shi Quan was, she was naturally there too.

The next morning, the group of four set off to enter the imperial palace. With the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and Dugu Bo, a Guest of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, there was absolutely no one to obstruct them along the way.

However, the fact that Dugu Bo was actually heading to the imperial palace together with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe caused much discussion, as Dugu Bo had always stood on the side of Xue Xing; appearing by Xue Qinghe's side now inevitably led people to speculate wildly...